Hello football readers! I hope you've had a great week and are ready for some awesome College Football games this weekend! There's an amazing slate of games to watch this weekend, and I'm really excited to have the Huskers back at home for our game against Northwestern! The College Football Playoff rankings are out now as we move into November. I anticipate a lot of chaos over the next few weeks, and hopefully it starts today! Here are my big predictions on this week's games, enjoy!
#7 Penn State at #24 Michigan State
Both the Nittany Lions and the Spartans are coming off brutally tough losses to Ohio State and Northwestern respectively. They're both still technically in the hunt for the BIG 10 East Division, but they'll need some help, and a big win today. Looking at this game, Penn State has a huge edge, even in back to back road games. Michigan State struggled to slow down Clayton Thorson and the Wildcat offense, which racked up 432 yards, 368 of which came through the air. Penn State struggled to move the ball against Ohio State, especially in the second half, so they'll be looking to find success against the Spartans' reeling defense. Michigan State still knows how to shut down the run game, ranking 4th in the nation allowing just under 90 yards per game on average. They've held Justin Jackson, Josh Adams and Akrum Wadley all under 60 yards so far this season, so Barkely could have another tough game on the ground ahead of him. I think Penn State got somewhat complacent last week in the second half and played a little too conservative in my opinion. I'm guessing they'll come out swinging in this game, and McSorely and their dynamic receiving corps should handle the Spartans secondary fairly easily. On the other side of the ball, Lewerke and Scott will look to move the ball on a tough Penn State defense. Look for them to take a lot of plays from Ohio State with the read option and get Lewerke out side of the pocket running and throwing. Could be a close game, but I think Penn State will be looking for more blood than the Spartans. Nittany Lions win this one on the road 30-17.
#4 Clemson at #20 NC State
The Tigers have to feel pretty good after being ranked 4th in the first CFP rankings that came out on Tuesday. They're looking to keep their season on track towards their 3rd consecutive ACC Championship, but a Wolf Pack stands in their way. This Wolf Pack is coming off a tough loss to Notre Dame, where the Irish racked up 318 rushing yards on them. However, NC State is still unbeaten in ACC play and could take the inside track to the Championship if they pick up the win today. They've been known to cause chaos with upsets before, but Clemson will be tough to knock off again. Kelly Bryant looked much healthier this past week than when we last saw him against Syracuse. Bryant threw for 207 and 2 TDs last week against Georgia Tech while adding another 67 on the ground. He'll definitely need to use his legs as Bradley Chubb and the rest of the Wolf Pack front seven will look to apply a lot of pressure in this one. Chubb has 7.5 sacks already this season, and the Wolf Pack have 55 Tackles for Loss so far this season. Clemson will need to protect Bryant if they want to win this game. Establishing a running game with Etienne will keep Bryant out of trouble and keep the ball away from NC State QB Ryan Finley. Finley has over 2,100 yards passing this season with a 66.3% completion rating and an incredible 12:1 TD to INT ratio! Clemson has one of the most formidable defenses in the nation, but Finley can cause anyone headaches. I expect this game to be close, but Clemson should handle this one cleanly. We'll see if any chaos ensues, but I'm taking the Tigers in a hard fought 33-21 road victory.
#15 Iowa State at West Virginia
The Cyclones are easily the most surprising team of 2017. They've knocked off two top 4 teams so far this season, and control their own destiny on their way to the new Big XII Conference Championship game. They've already taken down two of the best teams in the conference with Oklahoma and TCU, but have to take a trip to Morgantown to keep their momentum going. West Virginia has a solid offensive attack, but Will Grier threw 4 picks in their loss to Oklahoma State, so they could have some issues coming into this one. Iowa State held TCU to just 307 total yards and only 7 points! The Horned Frogs average nearly 40 points per game, but the Cyclones defense would not give an inch. They forced 3 turnovers from TCU, including two picks by Kenny Hill. I have been extremely impressed with the Cyclones defense, because they tackle very well. That's a rarity nowadays in football, but Matt Campbell has his team wrapping up better than anyone else in the nation in my opinion. On the other side of the ball, West Virginia has given up at least 36 points and 450+ yards in each of their last 3 games. With Kyle Kempt finding his stride as a starter and developing good chemistry with his receivers, the Cyclones could put up some impressive numbers in this one. Watch for RB David Montgomery to have a big game too, he has 716 yards and 8 TDs on the year thus far. I'm impressed with the Cyclones, and I think they'll keep rolling! ISU wins a solid road game 38-24.
#21 Stanford at #25 Washington State
The only story line you need to know is that Bryce Love is returning after missing last week with an injury. With Love out, they Cardinal were nearly upset by Oregon State last week. With Love back, they'll return the focal point of their offense who averages nearly 200 yards per game on the ground. Wazzu was scorched for 310 rushing yards last week against Arizona in their 58-37 loss, so this does not bode well for them. I was all hyped up on the Cougars earlier this season, but they seem to be falling apart as the season rolls on. Senior QB Luke Falk was even benched last week, so I think Stanford should roll in this game. I'm still interested in why Stanford has switched back and forth between Keller Chryst and KJ Costello at QB, but with Bryce Love returning to the backfield, it won't matter. Costello will get the start tkdag, and Stanford, more accurately Bryce Love, runs away with this game and demolishes any hope of Wazzu competing for a PAC-12 title. Cardinal 37, Cougars 17.
#19 LSU at #2 Alabama
The Tigers roll into Tuscaloosa to renew their Rivalry with the Tide. Bama has looked like Bama this season, but they have yet to play a challenging team this season. They opened with Florida State, but as we have seen now, the 'Noles aren't quite the team we thought they were. This will be a great opportunity for Nick Saban's squad to build up their resume, but it won't be an easy game. LSU is surging after early season struggles, but this will be a very difficult game for Orgeron to win. The Tigers are on a 6 year losing streak to the Tide dating back to 2012. No matter what, this always turns into a great game for any football fan to watch. I anticipate the usual, tough defense, hard nosed ground game and Bama Rolling. As always, I'm rooting for the upset, but I think Bama will take care of business yet again. Tough win, but Bama rolls away at the end. Tide 31, Tigers 12.
#13 Virginia Tech at #10 Miami
Another big game in the ACC looks to set up the winner on the inside track of the Coastal Division for the Championship game! This seems to be somewhat of a "ACC semifinal" weekend with Clemson and NC State battling for the top spot in the Atlantic and the Hokies and Hurricanes fighting for the Coastal. Miami has been one of the bigger surprises at 8-0 this season, primarily because of the late game Heroics from QB Malik Rosier. He's been clutch late in the game, leading them to last second victories over FSU and Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels scared the 'Canes last week, but I'm sure Miami will be more prepared with Va Tech walking in. Speaking of the Hokies, no one has really heard from them since they lost to Clemson in the early part of the season. Regardless if you've been paying attention to them or not, Justin Fuente has this team playing really well. They've given up just 20 combined points over the past 3 games, and QB Josh Jackson has this offense rolling. They have the 28th ranked scoring offense in the nation, averaging 35.4 points per game. This has great game all over it, and I think we'll see this one come down to the wire. Both defenses are tough and both young QBs have been stellar this season. I was behind the Hokies earlier this year against Clemson, and they weren't quite ready for that upset. This one is a really difficult game to pick, especially since it's a bit of an under the radar rivalry! I'll take the Hokies with a 27-26 stunner! This will be a fantastic game to watch!
#22 Arizona at #17 USC
Rich Rod's Wildcats travel to LA to take on the Trojans in a game that gives the winner the lead in the PAC-12 South and the inside track to the PAC-12 Championship! That's something I never thought I would be saying, but Arizona has found life, and his name is Khalil Tate. The Sophomore sensation at QB has exploded onto the scene in the past few weeks, and has helped the Wildcats become one of the best offensive attacks in the nation scoring 45+ points in their last 4 games this year. Tate has done most of his damage on the ground, rushing for 926 yards and 8 TDs so far this season, while throwing for 784 with 6 TDs and 3 Picks. He'll be squaring off against a Trojan defense that has struggled mightily against the run this year, giving up an average of nearly 170 per game, ranking 65th in the nation. This may not sound horrible, but when you remember they gave up 377 on the ground to Notre Dame two weeks ago, including 106 and 2 TDs to QB Brandon Wimbush, you realize Arizona has a great chance to dominate this game. The Wildcats will look to ground it out and run all over the Trojans, throwing only when necessary to keep Tate away from that pass rush. On the other side, Sam Darnold looks to continue his success through the air from last week where he threw for 266 and 3 TDs against the Sun Devils. Arizona gives up an average of 300.6 passing yards per game, ranking 128th (3rd to last) in the nation. Darnold should have a field day, and this means both offenses will be putting up some points. This is a fantastic match-up for PAC-12 after dark, and I'm very excited to see how it turns out! I think Arizona will cause some havoc, but their lack of ability to slow down the passing attack from Darnold will let them down in the end. Trojans take care of business at home in a barn burner, 47-39!
BEDLAM
#5 Oklahoma at #11 Oklahoma State
The Sooners and the Pokes square off in Stillwater for another Battle of Bedlam! This battle looks to give one of these high-powered offenses the lead for a trip to the Big XII Championship game. Mason Rudolph leads the nation's top offensive attack against the rival Sooners, who give up over 25 points per game on average. However, whenever Bedlam comes around, the Pokes seem to lose all of their offensive firepower... and their defense... and basically get demolished by OU in every area of the game. Oklahoma has a two game win streak in this series, scoring 58 and 38 in the last two meetings. Oklahoma State will look to turn that script around and burn OU deep with their stellar group of wide receivers. The Sooners rank 86th in the nation against the pass, so Mason Rudolph and crew have a great chance to put up some numbers. They'll need some help from their ground game though, so look for Justice Hill and J.D. King to be a primary focus of the offense today as well. If they can balance their offense and keep Mayfield on the sidelines, the Pokes have a chance to pull out a big win today. Looking at the Sooners, all you need to know is Baker Mayfield. The Heisman Caliber QB has never lost a Conference road game, and he's arguably the biggest Kryptonite against the Pokes. He's accounted for 27 TDs (23 Pass, 4 Rush) so far this season, and I don't think he'll miss a step today. This feels like another game where the "Poke Choke" takes a hold of Oklahoma State and Oklahoma runs away with this game. I wish this was a prime time game so I could watch it, but I'm hoping more for a good game. Rudolph will need to play flawlessly, and have some help from his weapons, but I think Baker Mayfield and the Sooners roll in this one! Sooners 44, Cowboys 28. We'll see if the Cowboys can break that curse!
Battle of the NUs
Northwestern at Nebraska
The Huskers are back home for a battle against the Wildcats of Northwestern. This is always one of my favorite games of the year because I think it's one of the most underrated rivalries in the BIG 10 Conference. The Huskers and the Wildcats always have great games, and both teams are looking to get a big win today. The Huskers are trying to get above .500 and move one game closer to bowl eligibility while the Wildcats are looking to get that 6th win in order to become bowl eligible. Northwestern comes to Lincoln on the heels of two back to back overtime wins against Iowa and Michigan State at home. When looking at the numbers, both teams are pretty even. Both teams average just under 400 yards per game, give up an average of nearly 400 yards per game and score in the mid-20s on average. My biggest concern in this game is our offense against the Northwestern defense. Pat Fitzgerald always has one of the toughest defenses to move the ball on, and that's true yet again. The Wildcats give up only 118 on the ground, ranking 17th in the nation. Nebraska has struggled with the run game all season long, but especially in the last couple weeks. The Huskers racked up only 40 rush yards against a lack luster Purdue squad last week, because it doesn't look like many people care. It was obvious that Purdue wanted that victory more last week, and if Nebraska plays with that mindset again, they'll get demolished by everyone else on their schedule. Northwestern found some offense last week, and they fought to the finish to beat the Spartans in triple OT. This should be a close one today, and I think it comes down to which defense can make a play. Neither offense has been that impressive, but they both have play makers. Clayton Thorson has always played well against Nebraska, and RB Justin Jackson is the Wildcats all-time leading rusher. The Blackshirts will need to get pressure early and often to slow them down, and tackling will be more important than ever when Jackson has the ball. On the offensive side, run the ball, but live through JD Spielman, Stanley Morgan and you're other play makers on the outside. It's clear that running the ball won't happen very much with our beaten up O-line, so ride the Tanner wave and use your weapons on the edge. Realistically, I don't like this game for Nebraska, and I think Northwestern's defense will cause a lot of issues. However, I'll always give my reason to why Nebraska can win any game, and I think some key plays on defense will lead the Huskers to a 27-24 victory! GO BIG RED!
Here are some Quick Hit games I think will be interesting to watch this week as well:
#9 Wisconsin at Indiana- Another game for Indiana to lose in the last 5 minutes is what this looks like to me. Wisconsin hasn't been great over recent weeks, and with the injury to Johnathan Taylor, their offense loses a lot. Indiana's tough defense should keep them in the game, but their offense will prove to hurt them yet again. Wisconsin wins (more accurately Indiana loses) a grinder on the road 28-23.
#14 Auburn at Texas A&M- The Tigers control their own destiny in the SEC, but first they must travel to College Station and take on the very confusing Aggies. You never know what team will show up for A&M, but their defense can still get after the QB. Look for Stidham to get rid of the ball quickly in this game, but I think they'll be okay on the road. Tigers win it 42-24. Kevin Sumlin could be looking for a new job at the end of this year.
#6 Ohio State at Iowa- This should be a cakewalk for the Buckeyes, but Iowa City has gotten the best of a number of top ranked teams, especially in November. The Hawks get Josey Jewel back, so Ohio State could have a difficult time moving the ball early in this game. I think JT Barrett and the Buckeyes run away with this one late, 47-17.
Texas at #8 TCU- The Horned Frogs are coming off their first loss of the season as they return home to take on a tough Longhorn team. They've beaten the Longhorns in each of the past 3 season by a combined margin of 129-26. The Frogs will need to get their offense back on track after only scoring 7 last week against the Cyclones. Texas gets Ehlinger back, so this should be a good game. Watch out for that Longhorn defense! I think I'm going to call the upset on this one! I want TCU to win, but Texas is a sneaky team, even on the road. I'm saying Hook 'Em and Texas wins a stunner on the road 36-31.
Thanks for reading my game predictions and I hope you have a fantastic weekend of football craziness! Commence the chaos and GO BIG RED!
#CollegeFootballKnowItAll
Alex Fernando
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